OK, this is "old" news, i.e. it's from the May 11th SF Chronicle, so I hope I'm not being redundant. Still, Robin has been chatting about Pinot Grigio so I thought this might be interesting to some of you:

Wonder if there is a merlot too!!
In fact, I quite enjoyed the merlot month here. I was shaking my head at first but I came across some nice ones. The Montes Alpha, plus the 2 Canadians..Cedar Creek and the Sandhill. Now I am ready for some summer sippers.
Hows the finches there Gary?

Gary Barlettano wrote:OK, this is "old" news, i.e. it's from the May 11th SF Chronicle, so I hope I'm not being redundant. Still, Robin has been chatting about Pinot Grigio so I thought this might be interesting to some of you:

Pink Pinot Grigio I have not seen. But last night when I ran out to the store I saw Sutter White Cabernet Sauvignon. I was aghast. And then I checked it out on the web and found out that even Beringer has a White Cabernet Sauvignon and a White Merlot in addition to the well-known White Zinfandel. I guess I've been living under a rock all these years. Madonna mia!

Pink Pinot Grigio I have not seen. But last night when I ran out to the store I saw Sutter White Cabernet Sauvignon. I was aghast. And then I checked it out on the web and found out that even Beringer has a White Cabernet Sauvignon and a White Merlot in addition to the well-known White Zinfandel. I guess I've been living under a rock all these years. Madonna mia!

Pink Pinot Grigio I have not seen. But last night when I ran out to the store I saw Sutter White Cabernet Sauvignon. I was aghast. And then I checked it out on the web and found out that even Beringer has a White Cabernet Sauvignon and a White Merlot in addition to the well-known White Zinfandel. I guess I've been living under a rock all these years. Madonna mia!

Prepare for an even bigger shock, Gary:

there's also quite a bit of white Pinot Noir out there too.

Oh, sure, they call it Blanc de Noirs or Vin Gris or Rose, but it's the same thing as that White Merlot or White Cabernet. And while I'd suspect the brands you mentioned wouldn't make any of us around here thrilled, there are some pretty good producers of all of those mentioned above.

How's about a Beaujolais style Sangiovese? Go here 2004 Santano Sangiovese and scroll down to the middle of the page. I actually like this stuff, even though I get get some major mal di testa when I drink it.

Regarding all this "pink" talk: Remember that there actually is a merlot blanc grape. According to Jancis Robinson, there are still a few thousand acres of it planted, mostly in Bourg and Blaye. It has no relationship to "real" merlot, other than the shape of the leaves. It doesnt' appear to have much merit, either, other than its ability to produce very high yields of rather boring juice.